21 nov. 2009

Caracas, Nov 20 ABN.- The United States, just as it did in Chile during the coup d'etat it leaded against Salvador Allende, which ended in the assassination of the Chilean president, tries now to apply the same recipe against the president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez Frias; for that it tries to besiege militarily the country.

This way Gonzalo Mesa Allende, grandson of the former Chilean president, referred to the establishment of seven military bases from the United States in Colombian territory, during his speech at the International Encounter of Left-wing Parties, in which take part 150 delegates coming from about 40 countries of around the world.

Though Mesa Allende warned that the correlation of forces in the world has changed, since the United States has no more the mask of world power, he affirmed that the threat persists because a North American attack against Venezuela would be carried out at second hand.

“Hardly ever the United States has acted militarily in the region, except in small countries such as Grenada, Panama and the Dominican Republic. With a country like Venezuela, in this new world context, they would not dare to act directly,” he said.

The United States seems to fear the process of democratic changes leaded by President Chavez since 10 years ago in Venezuela, as it feared the socialist Chile of Salvador Allende in 1973.

“Venezuela has proved, as it occurred in my country, that socialism can be built in democracy, in peace and in compliance with the reality of each nation without the need of copying the soviet model as if we were setting a computer program,” Mesa Allende expressed.

Moreover, he highlighted the participation of the citizenship on the decision making in great issues that impact the people and therefore he praised the leadership of the Venezuelan citizen in Venezuela since the Bolivarian Revolution arrived in 1999.

“In Venezuela, citizens are consulted not only to choose public officials in time of election, but they are also leaders in affairs of huge relevance, such as the possibility of amending or reforming the Constitution of the Republic or revoking a term to a governor,” he said.

Mesa Allende gave recognition to the level reached by Socialism in Venezuela and the credibility in the democratic institutions of the country.

Therefore, he referred to the Venezuelan electoral system, which announced the victory of the amendment to the national Constitution but which had previously determined the defeat of the constitutional reform that had been presented by the Venezuelan Executive.

Caracas, Nov 19. ABN.- Once again, the Government of Colombia is on the side of illegalities and distorting the truth, as it stated that it will denounce Venezuela before international organs for the blow of two border bridges, which were used for smuggling, drug trafficking and the paramilitarism, alleging that said action violates international humanitarian rights.

“We are witnesses of a new provocation, another manipulation of the Colombian Government, because they are making reference to border bridges, international bridges, as if said bridges [the ones that were destroyed] were legal,” said the Vice-President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Ramon Carrizalez, in response to the statements made by the Colombian defense Minister Gabriel Silva Lujan. The latter told media that “people in uniform arrived in the Venezuelan side, apparently part of the Venezuelan Army; localized two pedestrian crossings linking communities of both sides –civilian bridges built by communities itself; and the people in uniform blasted them in the Venezuelan side to affect the normal life of civilian population.”

In a telephone contact with the Venezuelan state-owned television channel Venezolana de Television (VTV), Carrizalez cleared up that “the border crossings have to be convened by both governments, with the presence of both States, with customs and the rest of the regular inspection points. However, when we find improvised crossings in non-convened places or any other kind of construction used for smuggling and drug trafficking, we are obliged to exercise our sovereignty.

“We have never passed to the Colombian territory or attacked that country as they are pretending. They want to qualify us as the aggressors to generate a media campaign, in which they would be seen as victims, trying to hide the reality of a Colombia that has been transformed into a great Yankee military base putting in risk the stability of all the South American countries,” the Vice President said.

Carrizalez reminded that the Government of Colombia “kidnapped in Venezuela a Colombian citizen and took him by force back to his country; we must also remember the attack of which Ecuador was victim; the accomplice manner in which the Government of Colombia let the drugs pass to our country; and the paramilitarism supported by the Colombian Government that has passed the border to Venezuela.

“When we analyze all those elements, which are enough to denounce Colombia as an outlaw Government, it is clear who the aggressor and the warmonger is and it does not cause any surprise the statements made by Colombian officials, because they are trying to hide that they handed over the sovereignty of their country,” said the Venezuelan Vice- President.

The bridges, located over the Tachira River (Venezuela) border with the department of Norte de Santander (Colombia), are clandestine crossings or shortcuts used by drug dealers, paramilitaries and smugglers.

In this sense, Carrizalez reiterated that “we will continue enforcing international laws. Our country is a victim of drug trafficking and paramilitarism; thousands of Colombians come to our country displaced by the war in their country, due to the lack of attention of their Government that does not care Colombians to move out from their territory, because the Government is getting rid of a social problem. Said Government is just an oligarchy that only cares its businesses and the control over media outlets, but not the country.”

Regarding the current situation in the border between Colombia and Venezuela, Carrizalez stated that the activities are taking place normally as well as the operations at the border crossings legally convened.

Caracas, Nov 19 ABN.- Latin America is currently within a crusade starred by two contrary ideologies: capitalism, which seek to accelerate the processes of hyperconcentration of wealth; and socialism, which involves the unification of Latin America as part of the cooperation and respect to sovereignty.

The above statement was issued by the vice president for the Andean region of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Ali Rodriguez Araque, during his speech at the opening of the International Encounter of Left-wing Parties.

“Two stances confront nowadays: that which shaped under the guidance of the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas, devised by the United States); and the nascent ALBA (Alliance for the People of our America),” he stated.

Therefore, Rodriguez Araque recalled that one of the consequences generated by the capitalist policies has been the collapse of the economic system in different countries, while the approaches coming from the ALBA have boosted the regional integration and solidarity among the nations.

“The FTAA has intended to become our complete America into a broad market, where there would theoretically compete freely the economic forces in equal terms, but which would have simply worked to accelerate the processes of monopolization and hyperconcentration of wealth that the world underwent and which, somehow, it continues living under the overpowering thesis of neoliberalism, today in complete bankruptcy,” he said.

Rodriguez Araque called to strengthen the left in Latin America so as to boost the sovereignty of the people and guarantee independence and social welfare in the continent.

According to the PSUV leader, the encounter of left-wing parties was organized precisely with the purpose of devising strategies that would allow us consolidate the integration and to boost a solid political movement, “to guarantee the peace that people claim.”

“That is indeed the goal that has met us here today. We are sure that at the end it will take us to the goal, which is coordinating our efforts so as to confront the risk of aggression against our countries,” he stressed.

An official document from the Department of the US Air Force reveals that the military base in Palanquero, Colombia will provide the Pentagon with “…an opportunity for conducting full spectrum operations throughout South America…”

This information contradicts the explainations offered by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and the US State Department regarding the military agreement signed between the two nations this past October 30th. Both governments have publicly stated that the military agreement refers only to counternarcotics and counterterrorism operations within Colombian territory. President Uribe has reiterated numerous times that the military agreement with the US will not affect Colombia’s neighbors, despite constant concern in the region regarding the true objetives of the agreement. But the US Air Force document, dated May 2009, confirms that the concerns of South American nations have been right on target. The document exposes that the true intentions behind the agreement are to enable the US to engage in “full spectrum military operations in a critical sub-region of our hemisphere where security and stability is under constant threat from narcotics funded terrorist insurgencies…and anti-US governments…”

The military agreement between Washington and Colombia authorizes the access and use of seven military installations in Palanquero, Malambo, Tolemaida, Larandia, Apíay, Cartagena and Málaga. Additionally, the agreement allows for “the access and use of all other installations and locations as necessary” throughout Colombia, with no restrictions. Together with the complete immunity the agreement provides to US military and civilian personnel, including private defense and security contractors, the clause authorizing the US to utilize any installation throughout the entire country - even commercial aiports, for military ends, signifies a complete renouncing of Colombian sovereignty and officially converts Colombia into a client-state of the US.

The Air Force document underlines the importance of the military base in Palanquero and justifies the $46 million requested in the 2010 budget (now approved by Congress) in order to improve the airfield, associated ramps and other installations on the base to convert it into a US Cooperative Security Location (CSL). “Establishing a Cooperative Security Location (CSL) in Palanquero best supports the COCOM’s (Command Combatant’s) Theater Posture Strategy and demonstrates our commitment to this relationship. Development of this CSL provides a unique opportunity for full spectrum operations in a critical sub-region of our hemisphere where security and stability is under constant threat from narcotics funded terrorist insurgencies, anti-US governments, endemic poverty and recurring natural disasters.”

It’s not difficult to imagine which governments in South America are considered by Washington to be “anti-US governments”. The constant agressive declarations and statements emitted by the State and Defense Departments and the US Congress against Venezuela and Bolivia, and even to some extent Ecuador, evidence that the ALBA nations are the ones perceived by Washington as a “constant threat”. To classify a country as “anti-US” is to consider it an enemy of the United States. In this context, it’s obvious that the military agreement with Colombia is a reaction to a region the US now considers full of “enemies”.

COUNTERNARCOTICS OPERATIONS ARE SECONDARY

Per the US Air Force document, “Access to Colombia will further its strategic partnership with the United States. The strong security cooperation relationship also offers an opportunity for conducting full spectrum operations throughout South America to include mitigating the Counternarcotics capability.” This statement clearly evidences that counternarcotics operations are secondary to the real objetives of the military agreement between Colombia and Washington. Again, this clearly contrasts the constant declarations of the Uribe and Obama governments insisting that the main focus of the agreement is to combat drug trafficking and production. The Air Force document emphasizes the necessity to improve “full spectrum” military operations throughout South America – not just in Colombia – in order to combat “constant threats” from “anti-US governments” in the region.

PALANQUERO IS THE BEST OPTION FOR CONTINENTAL MOBILITY

The Air Force document explains that “Palanquero is unquestionably the best site for investing in infrastructure development within Colombia. Its central location is within reach of…operations areas…its isolation maximizes Operational Security (OPSEC) and Force Protection and minimizes the US military profile. The intent is to leverage existing infrastructure to the maximum extent possible, improve the US ability to respond rapidly to crisis, and assure regional access and presence at minimum cost. Palanquero supports the mobility mission by providing access to the entire South American continent with the exception of Cape Horn…”

ESPIONAGE AND WARFARE

The document additionally confirms that the US military presence in Palanquero, Colombia, will improve the capacity of espionage and intelligence operations, and will allow the US armed forces to increase their warfare capabilities in the region. “Development of this CSL wil further the strategic partnership forged between the US and Colombia and is in the interest of both nations…A presence will also increase our capability to conduct Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), improve global reach, support logistics requirements, improve partnerships, improve theater security cooperation and expand expeditionary warfare capability.”

The language of war included in this document evidences the true intentions behind the military agreement between Washington and Colombia: they are preparing for war in Latin America. The past few days have been full of conflict and tension between Colombia and Venezuela. Just days ago, the Venezuelan government captured three spies from the Colombian intelligence agency, DAS, and discovered several active destabilization and espionage operations against Cuba, Ecuador and Venezuela. The operations - Fénix, Salomón and Falcón, respectively, were revealed in documents found with the captured DAS agents. Approximately two weeks ago, 10 bodies were found in Táchira, a border zone with Colombia. After completing the relevant investigations, the Venezuelan government discovered that the bodies belonged to Colombian paramilitaries infiltrated inside Venezuelan territory. This dangerous paramilitary infiltration from Colombia forms part of a destabilization plan against Venezuela that seeks to create a paramilitary state inside Venezuelan territory in order to breakdown President Chávez’s government.

The military agreement between Washington and Colombia will only increase regional tensions and violence. The information revealed in the US Air Force document unquestionably evidences that Washington seeks to promote a state of warfare in South America, using Colombia as its launching pad. Before this declaration of war, the peoples of Latin America must stand strong and unified. Latin American integration is the best defense against the Empire’s aggression.

*The US Air Force document was submitted in May 2009 to Congress as part of the 2010 budget justification. It is an official government document and reaffirms the authenticity of the White Book: Global Enroute Strategy of the US Air Mobility Command, which was denounced by President Chávez during the UNASUR meeting in Bariloche, Argentina this past August 28th. I have placed the original document and the non-official translation to Spanish that I did of the relevant parts relating to Palanquero on the web page of the Center to Alert and Defend the People “Centro de Alerta para la Defensa de los pueblos”, a new space we are creating to garantee that strategic information is available to those under constant threat from imperialist aggression.

The Ministry of People's Power for Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in connection with the recent statements by officials of the United States's government over their "interest in promoting stability and dialogue" between Colombia and Venezuela, would like to recall that the installation of military bases under the unrestricted control of the United States in Colombia constitutes the source of a situation of instability and regional concerns.

The disproportionate U.S. military deployment on Colombian soil, tries to justify to the government of Colombia as a bilateral effort to combat drug trafficking and terrorism. These arguments are false and do not dissipate the doubts and concerns that the countries of the South American region has on these military bases, perceived in terms of threats due to the magnitude of the program that will be implemented with the installation of equipment for electronic warfare, intelligence work, military officers and personnel of security contractor companies.

The strengthening of the military presence from the United States is geared to project their global power to deter, under the threat of military operations, to countries that, as the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, maintain a critical position in relation to their imperialist policies. In this strategy, the Palanquero base will have a strategic importance role, since it could serve as a scale for out-of Colombian territory missions. Venezuela wishes to draw attention on that while the text of the "Supplementary Agreement for Cooperation and Technical Assistance in Defense and Security" does not cover operations in third countries, it neither explicitly prohibits them.

The concern of Venezuela on considering as a serious threat the presence of these bases in Colombian territory under the unrestricted control of the U.S., has strong foundations in the most recent violations of international law carried out by Colombia and the United States.

In the case of the government of Álvaro Uribe, to have illegally attacked the territory of the Republic of Ecuador in March 2008, was violated paragraph 4 of Article 2 of the United Nations Charter, under which the States, in their international relations, shall refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any other State or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.

For its part the United States, with the war in Iraq, violated resolution 1441 (2002) of the Security Council. This resolution established a rigorous inspections regime that strengthened the authority of the Committee on Monitoring, Verification and Inspection of the United Nations (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The resolution did not authorized the use of force in case of violation by Iraq, the United States have violated the United Nations Charter by launching military action without the approval of the Security Council.

These illegal actions contrary to the writings and spirit of the United Nations Charter, and the rules that forbid the use of force in international relations, very recently violated by Colombia and the United States, justify the concern of the South American countries by an exaggerated operational and defensive capability and a clear cession of responsibilities of the own State of Colombia to the United States by the administration of President Álvaro Uribe.

While the administration of President Barack Obama has publicly stated its commitment to respect international law and multilateralism, the Venezuelan concern is strengthened by the fact that this administration continues repeatedly violating Resolution 1373 (2001) of the Security Council, which prevents the States to provide refuge to those who commit terrorist acts and prohibits the denial of requests for extradition of terrorists for political reasons. This country has breached the provisions of the Extradition Treaty with Venezuela by refusing, through legal subterfuges, to extradite the notorious international terrorist Luis Posada Carriles.

Given this real situation of threat to stability in the region by the U.S. government's, the proposal to mediate has a clear intention to divert attention from their primary responsibility in the crisis and is rude in the eyes of the aware peoples in the world.

The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reiterates its blunt rejection of the installation of the said U.S. military bases on Colombian soil, and their willingness to continue the debate within the UNASUR on the difficult regional situation generated by the governments in Washington and Bogota when signing the "Supplementary Agreement for Cooperation and Technical Assistance in Defense and Security."

Venezuela believes that if the United States has a real interest in collaborating to promote dialogue and regional stability, they must desist from their intention to make Colombia into the hub of their regional strategy of domination. and control over the countries of South America.